Sungho Kim

Tenor Sungho Kim was born in Gwangmyeong, South Korea. He completed his undergraduate studies in vocal performance at the Korea National University of Arts under Professor Kwangsun Song, followed by a Master’s degree at the Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin, where he studied with Professors Ewa Wolak and Julia Varady. During his studies, Mr. Kim participated in masterclasses with Prof. Seungseo Na and Maurizio Carnelli in Seoul, as well as Lioba Braun, Deborah Polaski, Bejun Mehta, Gerd Uecker, Christiane Karg, and Brigitte Fassbaender in Hamburg, and Thomas Hampson and Barbara Frittoli in Verbier.

Since the 2020/21 season, Mr. Kim has been a member of the ensemble at Dortmund Opera, where he has appeared in a wide range of roles including Rodolfo (La Bohème), Belmonte (Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Tamino (The Magic Flute), Léopold (La Juive), and Alfred (Die Fledermaus). In 2023/24, he appeared in the world premiere of The Journey to Planet 9 and as Froh in Das Rheingold. His 2024/25 season includes performances as Alfredo Germont (La traviata) and Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni).

Earlier engagements include Mr. Kim’s time with the International Opera Studio of the Hamburg State Opera in the 2018/19 season, where he performed Scaramuccio (Ariadne auf Naxos) under Kent Nagano. In 2021, he made his debut at the Verbier Festival as Rodolfo and was awarded the festival’s top honor, the Prix Yves Paternot.

Mr. Kim has received significant recognition on the international competition circuit. He won the Song Prize at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition in 2023 and 1st Prize at the International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition in 2018. Additional awards include 3rd Prize at the Meistersinger von Nürnberg Competition (2022), 2nd Prize at the Salvatore Licitra Competition in Milan (2020), and finalist prizes at the Glyndebourne Opera Cup (2020) and Concurso Internacional de Canto Francisco Viñas (2016), among others.